The increase in core temperature during exercise in a hot environment causes hyperventilation (hyperthermia-induced hyperventilation), which decreases the partial pressure of arterial blood carbon dioxide. However, the effects on the body of wearing a surgical mask during exercise that would cause hyperthermia-induced hyperventilation have not been clarified. Therefore, we investigated such effects. Ten healthy men participated in the study. A 44-minute steady-state load cycling exercise (55% of peak oxygen uptake) was performed under hot environmental conditions (30℃, 70% relative humidity). Two experimental conditions were set: exercising with surgical face mask (MASK) and without a surgical face mask (CON). The experiment was conducted as a randomized crossover design. Body temperatures, respiratory gas exchange, and subjective indices were measured during exercise. In terms of physiological indices, respiratory rate only revealed a main effect and was significantly lower in the MASK than in CON at 44 min of exercise (CON 41.0±19.2 breaths/min, MASK 35.6±11.2 breaths/min p=0.029). No significant differences were observed between conditions in other physiological parameters. As for the subjective indices, dyspnea showed a condition × time interaction (p=0.016), which was significantly higher in the MASK starting at 5 minutes through the end (CON 4.5±3.5 and MASK 8.5±2.1 at the end of exercise p=0.016). No significant differences were observed in other subjective measures. In conclusion, wearing a surgical face mask during moderate-intensity prolonged exercise under hot environmental conditions significantly worsened dyspnea, but no significant differences were observed in other physiological indices or subjective indices.

The aims of this study were to clarify difficulties experienced by families facing the cessation of home-based care for terminal cancer patients, and to review the associated necessary nursing practices. We conducted semi-structured interviews with ten families. A qualitative research design was selected for this study, and the data was interpreted using content analysis techniques. The results were integrated into seven major categories: “unable to assess present symptoms for lack of understanding terminal cancer symptoms,” “feeling emotional pain during the patient’s aggravated condition,” “difficulties in coping with various patients’ physical symptoms: problems regarding inexperienced care,” “exhausted by living 24 hours a day with patient: lack of support, because of constraints from important people in the caregiver’s life,” and “difficulties faced by primary family caregivers in preparing a treatment environment.” Family caregivers were not able to prepare a treatment environment, because of a lack of understanding the symptoms of terminal cancer and an unwillingness to admit experiencing mental and physical burdens. The findings of this study suggested that the role of a nurse is to understand the family’s condition and values, provide required information in advance, and to adjust and prepare the treatment environment.